Uh oh, we may have a problem, NASA

Polistes sp., maybe Polistes exclamans?

 Yeah, James has been very patient with me. I hate to kill nearly anything in our Wildscape. Unless it's non-native. Over our garage doors, we've got some paper wasps building nests. In my opinion, small ones like the one above aren't much of a problem. "Wasps feed on insects, including caterpillar pests, and thus are considered to be beneficial insects by many gardeners," states the species account on the AgriLife Extension site. That's how I feel, too–they've got a place in the natural world. 

However, when the nest gets this large, and it's right over where we walk in and out of the garage....

 

Then, dang it, we've got a probably problem, NASA.

So I guess James is gonna knock this nest down soon with a high-pressure hose.

UPDATE–Well, that evening, after a bit of drama, the nest DID come down. I was going to use the water hose, but James STRONGLY advised against the tactic. We then agreed on a bucket of soapy water. However, the first bucket accidentally got spilled down the driveway. The second bucket hit the mark. Alas, most of the wasps did die. Right away, the survivors returned and started work on a new nest. They're persistent insects! A few more dashes of soapy water, but they continue to return.

I'm a contributor!

I love the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Last spring, we officially joined as members. When researching and writing, I use the center's Plant Database and Image Gallery A LOT. Recently, I checked out their contributor guidelines since I photograph so many species around our Wildscape and across Central Texas. Long story short: I am now an official contributor to the Image Gallery! So far, I have five images archived. Some photographers have contributed hundreds of images. Authors Sally and Andy Wasowski donated more than 3,900 photos in 2005!

Check me out: Sheryl Smith-Rodgers.

Flowers and spiders

The purple clematis vine (Clematis pitcheri) is blooming!

The calylophus is still blooming.

And so are our volunteer dayflowers. They've taken over several patches in our beds, but it's fine with us. Their blooms are so sweet and pretty.

I found this little orbweaver and her web among the mealycup sage branches.

 

And tiny spiderling was traveling between tree branches....

Better late than never

I photographed this plant in our Meadow beneath the live oaks on April 17, 2012, but didn't post the pictures because I didn't know the species. Now I do: starhair groundcherry (Physalis viscosa) in the Solanaceae family.

From the same day...Slender false pennyroyal (Hedeoma acinoides).

Shrubby copperleaf, also called three-seeded mercury, (Acalypha phleoides)

Bromeliad blooming again

The bromeliad that our neighbor Jerri gave us as a wedding gift in May 2006 is blooming grandly again! Isn't it just beautiful?

This and that

Photographed in our Meadow....

White heliotrope (Heliotropium tenellum)

Seed pod of purple milkweed vine (Matelea biflora)

More cool pods

Coastal indigo (Indiogera miniata)

Sida (Sida filicaulis)

Prairie tea (Croton monanthogynus)...thanks, Jerry Stacy, for the ID!

Prairie tea

Jerry proposed a Diodia sp. It was TINY! (Maybe Diadia teres?)

Another mystery solved

Texas queen's-delight

Another plant mystery solved, thanks to one resident expert with the Highland Lakes chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists–Jerry Stacy. I spotted this unusual plant at my parents' house last Sunday. Their home is north of Boerne in Kendall County. I was walking across the rocky land that grows free and saw this leggy thing. It had already bloomed so I couldn't figure it out. I emailed these photos to Jerry, and he wrote back "Queen's-delight." He's right!

Texas queen's delight (Stillingia texana) is in the Euphorbiaceae family, so it's related to snow-on-the-mountain and Texas bullnettle. It's a perennial herb, but I have no clue what it's "good for." According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the species is also called Texas toothleaf.